Dr. Heard is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology and has been at Winthrop since 2012. He went to graduate school at Brown University, where he earned a Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. He was then awarded a Voss Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Brown University Environmental Change Initiative. Since arriving at Winthrop, Dr. Heard has taught courses in "Ecology" and "Botany."

Dr. Heard's research focuses on understanding the drivers of extinction for plants and animals across the world. To date, he has examined how species invasions impact native plant communities over time, the role infectious disease plays in driving wildlife extinctions, and the ecological and evolutionary consequences of global climate change. He also has interests in science policy and communication. Dr. Heard is currently serving as an associate editor for the journal Frontiers of Biogeography.